THE FUSE

I’ve been touring colleges with my 17-year-old daughter, across our home state of Colorado and up and down the California coast. Recently, my daughter found a college she loves, nothing grand, a small liberal arts school, and when she pictures herself there, she smiles because it feels like her. But I’ve noticed something. When she imagines sharing her discovery with classmates, she hesitates, worried about what they might think: Your chosen school doesn’t boast a famous name. It’s not even well-known. They’ll say it without words, and her choice will feel like a lesser one, and somehow, she’ll feel less about herself too.